Two Branches at the Same TIme

Ever thought about this? With two physical, brick-and-mortar library branches, you have to use them one at a time. Can’t use both at once!

But with a digital branch, you can. You can be in the physical library building, and can use the digital branch at the same time. You might be reading an article, checking out an ebook on your mobile device, asking a question via live chat, or wandering the stacks with smartphone in hand, looking for a book.

But you can use both. At the same time. And people do.

So make sure to design your physical branches – the building, and especially the signage – with your digital branch customers in mind. What are some things you can do to help digital branch customers while they’re in your physical building?

Lots of “we have free wifi” signs

Signs by the physical books, talking about your new ebooks or databases

Smartphone recharging stations

Comfortable seating, with power nearby

Mentions of social media (signs on the doors, etc)

Hmm … good signage, comfortable seating, and power. What else? What am I missing?

Laptop locks, or better yet whole carrels with lockable lids. (As someone who works-from-home sometimes from the library, one of the few big drawbacks of the library is I have to pack up *everything* every time I need to pee — an interaction which, sadly, I can only do you in your physical branch, even if my information-seeking needs are all digital. )

Andromeda

Wow, I totally messed up the grammar there. I plead “6:59am, no coffee yet”. Can you edit that?

http://www.davidleeking.com davidleeking

Ha! I probably “could” edit it, but it reads fine to me! And thanks for the comment – it’s a good one, and one that many customers have to deal with. I know there’s no way I’ll be leaving my laptop out unattended!